People will always make money out of enthusiasts, be it Harrop, HSV, Autotechnique or whoever. Enthusiasts often think with passion rather than logic. "Logic" would dictate many things available for cars to be an utter waste of hard earned money...
The same "flaws" can be applied to this question Pickles posed. Some will see this engine as absolutely essential, and others will see the current options as entirely adequate.
With HSV's history, they bang out something special every now and then, if the numbers add up. I wouldn't be surprised to see it in something limited edition and pricey. People are dreaming if they expect this engine to be available in something relatively "affordable". See earlier passion rather than logic comment.
The problem is that Australia does not have enough 'enthusiasts' to keep Holden up and running. HSV is reliant on Holden. Holden goes and HSV has no basis to build on.
Holden/HSV is currently being out gunned by Ford/FPV. I would not buy a GTS with less power and less potential from cheap mods that is dearer than a GT.
The production costs associated with a higher output engine are a minor fraction of the markup we see on the show room floor.
The R&D costs are near zero. The LS9 etc is already designed, tooled, built, reliable and available. You don't have to be a rocket scentist to throw a stronger clutch, off the shelf, some bigger brakes off the shelf..............all these parts are off the shelf items that exist and are ready to be bolted on.
Don't kid yourself.....the GTS is just an overpriced taxi with some cheap bolt ons.
JJW
What about the slap in the face home owners in the United States copped recently? Should we feel sorry for them and keep buying at inflated prices?
Inflated prices are good in the short term for rcent purchasers but ultimately HSV is pricing themselves out of the market......and then the bubble has to burst.
You could see it a mile off with GTHO's a few years ago.
I am calling BS with the longevity of HSV pricing in the medium term.
We see similar cars for a fraction of the cost in the US and other western markets.
I am sure HSV are making killer profit at the current pricing but am douting its sustainability. In fact, the whole Australian car manufacturing market needs to be rationalised to have any future.
Australian economy is at least 5 years from concrete recovery and now would be a great time for HSV to bust out a grass roots value for money car.
JJW
I wouldn't be putting money on a supercharged HSV this year.
I would be putting money on HSV doing something special for VF. Will be worth the wait in my opinion.
Anyone who thinks the FPV motor will be easily outdone is fooling themselves. It's potential is enormous and if Ford would release the shackles from FPV they would rewrite the rule book on performance sedans. Don't hold your breath for a HO, but limited edition models will be seen from both camps this year. Don't hold your breath for power changes.
VF will be worth the wait if you are a HSV fan. Bring on 2013.
Just my opinion.
Urgh... we have the same discussion on this forum over and over again every 6 months it seems. Anyone who thinks that it's as easy as dropping in an LSA or LS9 plus clutch and brakes without having to go through the expense and rigmarole of testing for ADR's etc is clearly in the dark. The cost needs to be amortised across the units made/sold and if there aren't many, it's not worth the exercise.
Also, while you might not buy a GTS with less power and less potential... than a GT, there are plenty that will and do. We all know that the GT has an amazing engine and is ridiculously good value but are the sales figures reflecting this? And at the end of the day for these companies, that's what counts.
You're wrong...HSV is not being "outgunned"...certainly not by FPV anyway. No more Holden?.....well Falcon & Commodore may both go, but Falcon will definitely go first. LS9.....wrong again....it will probably be LSA, if not locally developed.
Your comment re GTS is simply rubbish.
Cheers, Pickles.
So....if HSV are currently outselling FPV, making more profit, and generating more sales....why do they need to change anything?
Dont fix something that aint broke![]()
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